Irene Marie (Lutjen) Grabau Schweiger

LUTJEN, GRABAU, SCHWEIGER, MOELLER, LUNDSTROM, LAWSON, TESSARO

Posted By: County Coordinator (email)
Date: 5/21/2011 at 21:17:10

Irene Grabau-Schwieger, 90, formerly of Boone, passed away in Fairmont, Minnesota on Wednesday, April 20, 2011.

Irene Marie (Grabau-Schwieger) Lutjen, the daughter of Christian and Katherine (Moeller) Lutjen, was born on March 17, 1921 in Hamilton County, Iowa, near Boone.

She attended St. Paul’s Parochial School and graduated from Stanhope High School in 1938.

Irene was united in marriage to George H. Grabau on July 15, 1943 while George was on leave from the Army Air Corps. After George’s discharge from the service, they farmed in Boone County. The marriage was blessed with four children. George died of a sudden heart attack on August 30, 1964. Irene and the children then moved to Boone and Irene worked as a bookkeeper at R&W Inc. Four years later, she married Jack Schwieger on June 23, 1968 and they farmed near Fairmont, Minnesota until moving into town in 1971. Jack passed away on March 20, 2005.

Next to God, Irene’s greatest joy was her family. She took great delight in watching her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren grow and being a part of their lives. Irene was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Fairmont where she was active in the Ladies Aid. She was also a member of the Kahler-Schwieger American Legion Post #522 and ARC. She enjoyed playing piano, crafts, cooking, traveling and socializing with friends.

Irene was preceded in death by her parents; first husband, George Grabau; second husband, Jack Schwieger; son, Bruce Grabau; step-son, Keith Schwieger; step-daughter-in-law, Carol Schwieger; and brother-in-law, William Lundstrom.

She is survived by three children, Marshall Grabau and his wife, Jerry, of West Des Moines, Iowa, Melanie Lawson and her husband, John, of Maple Grove, Minnesota, and Blaine Grabau of Fairmont, Minnesota; step-children, Kenneth Schwieger of Cottage Grove, Oregon, Bruce Schwieger and his wife, Kathy, of Fairmont, Minnesota, Jeff Schwieger and his wife, Dawn, of Shakopee, Minnesota, and Wanda Tessaro and her husband, Joe, of Magalia, California; a step-daughter-in-law, Lori Schwieger of Fairmont, Minnesota; eighteen grandchildren; fourteen great-grandchildren; a brother, LaVerne Lutjen and his wife, Lorraine, of Boone, Iowa; a sister, Elsie Lundstrom of Boone, Iowa; nieces; nephews; and other relatives and friends.

Funeral service in Fairmont, Minnesota will be Monday morning, April 25th at 11:00 a.m. at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Fairmont. Visitation will be on Monday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the service at the Church. Lakeview Funeral Home of Fairmont is in charge of the arrangements in Fairmont.

Funeral services in Boone will be held on Tuesday morning, April 26th at 11:00 a.m. at the Stark-Welin Chapel in Boone with Pastor Diana Sickles officiating.

Interment will be in the Linwood Park Cemetery in Boone following the service.

Friends may call at the Stark-Welin Chapel prior to the service on Monday morning from 9:00 a.m. until the time of service with the family present during that time to greet friends.

Those wishing to express their sympathies through a memorial may direct their gift to the Immanuel Lutheran Church or Arc of MN SW.

Source: Stark-Welin Funeral Home